Electric chime signal



March 4, 1947. J S ZUCKERMAN 2,417,037

ELECTRIC CHIME SIGNAL Filed March 28, 1946 Patented Mar. 4, 1947 UNITED STATES L ATENT OFFICE 2,417,037 ELECTRIC ennui: SIGNAL Joseph S. Zuckerman, Chicago Ill assignor to liIeil-O-Chime and Signal Corporation, Chioago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application March as, 19 1.6, Serial NmGS'l'JGl) 4 Claims. 1

Thisinvention relates to an electric signal and particularly to chime structure for use in signaling.

One object of the present invention is to provide a simple and economical construction for a chime, which construction will be economical to manufacture and which may be assembled in a simple and convenient manner. A further object is to provide a-simple construction for mounting the chime plate whereby such chime plate may be secured in a silpleand expeditious manner to result in a chime support having desirable properties. Other and ancillary objects will become apparent in connection with a detailed description of the invention illustrated by the drawings.

Referring, therefore, to the drawing, Figure l is a plan view looking down upon a chime embodying the present invention. Figure 2 is a sectional detail on line 2--2 showing the mounting means for gchime plate. Figure 3 is a sectional detail on line ti- 3 of Figure 1 showing the solenoid striker. Figure 4 is a detail of the retaining washer in connection with. the chime plate support of Figure 2.

The chime striker is mounted upon base ii) of metal, plastic or other rigid material. Base l6 may have any desired shape and, as shown here, has a generally rectangular shape with rounded corners. Secured to an intermediate portion of base plate iii are two solenoids l3 and i4 having leads I and It respectively for their windings. The solenoids may be constructed in any desired manner and, as shown here, are provided with metal tube H which may be either of brass or iron over which is disposed winding l8. Sheet iron cover 2Q has downwardly depending sides 2! and 22. Sides 2! and 22 pass down along the ends of Winding i8 and have suitable apertures in which tube i? has its ends. Casing may be made of sheet iron so that the magnetic circuit around the outside of winding [3 may be completed. Sides 2! and 22 have ears and 24 projecting through suitable apertures in base ID. These ears may be twisted as shown to lock the casing in position.

It will be evident from Figur 1 that both solenoids may have one casing 23) in common. It is understood, however, that each solenoid may have it individual casing and that the number of solenoids may be as desired.

Operating in tube ll of each solenoid is ferromagnetic plunger 26 of soft iron. This plunger carries inserts 21 and 28 at the ends thereof. Such inserts may either be of suitable striking material such as wood, or one of the inserts of one plunger may be of felt for preventing a striking action. The inserts may be disposed in plunger 26 in any suitable manner, such as by pressing into suitable blindrecesses at theends of the plunger. Each plunger has disposed around it coil spring having one end 31 of reduced diameter and adaptedto lock inannular slot 32 at one end of plunger 25. Coil spring Sil bears against side 22 of the solenoid casing and is adapted to bias the plunger to a position as shown in Figures 1 and 3.

Cooperating'with the plungers are chime bars 34 and 355. These bars maybe made of steel or other material such as brass or bronze having desired pitch'when struck. Since the two chime bars are supported'in similar manners, only one will be described in detail. Thus, referring to chimebar 3 l,apertu-res 36 are provided at spaced points "for purposes of support. Only one mounting-means need be described in detaiLjAperture 'is round and has passingthrough it tube 31 pref rably of flexible -material like rubber. Disposed within tub'e 37 and passing through the same is metal finger -38 having one end rigidly supported'from arm 39. Arm 39 extends upwardly from base it and may either be cut out therefrom and bent up or may be riveted thereto, as shown at 45. Finger 38 is flat but may be strengthened by flange 4| pressed out therefrom along its length.

Finger 38 has the free end thereof provided with eye 42. Disposed around tube 3! on opposite sides of chime plate 34 are tapered coil springs 43 and d4. Coil spring 43 is disposed between chime plate 34 and arm 39. Coil spring .4 is disposed on the other side of chime plate 34 and is maintained in place by the folowing. Washer 46 having cup-shaped interior 4'! has elongated slot 56 in cup-shaped portion 3?. Set 553 is adapted to accommodate finger 38, while cup-shaped portion 61 registers with the edge of tube 3'5. Rim portion 46 furnishes support for the end of coil spring is. To maintain the assembly intact, pin 5i passing through eye 42 is provided. Pin 52 may be a simple rod or may be a split cotter pin. Pin 52 is preferably short enough to lie along the bottom of cupshaped portion 4'! of the washer. Spring 44 will press washer 45 so that the bottom of the washer is adjacent pin 52, this pin being long enough so that it is impossible for the pin to be removed from the eye while the cup-shaped washer is in the position shown. t is evident that pin 52 may be inserted or removed only by forcing washer 45 clear of the pin against the compression of spring M and the resilience of rubber tube 3?. Thus, the chime plate may be simply and efiectively mounted at each point.

It will be noted that the chime plate is resiliently supported so that vibration induced in the chime plate by striln'ng is not clamped by the mounting.

In use, one or the other of the two solenoids may be energized. Thus, solenoid l3, when energized, may be adapted to strike chime plate 35. Upon deenergization of solenoid l3, chime plate 3 5 may be struck. Thus, solenoid 13 will provide two tones.

Solenoid l4, on the other hand, when energized, may be adapted to strike chime plate 35 to produce a single tone. Upon deenergization of solenoid 14, its hammer may be provided with a deadening pad to prevent chime plate 3 5 from bein vibrated. Other combinations may be provided as desired.

What is claimed is:

1. An electric chime signal comprising a base plate, solenoid means on said base, a chime plate adapted to be struck by said solenoid means when energized, and means for supporting said chime plate on said base plate, said means including a rigid finger extending through an aperture in said chime plate, coil springs around said finger bearing against opposite sides of said chime plate, a washer slidable on said finger, said finger having a free end with aney at the free end and a retaining pin passing through said eye and engaging said washer to provide a locked assembly.

2. An electric chime signal comprising a chime plate, means for supporting said chime plate at spaced points thereon, each of said means comprising a finger extending through an aperture in said chime plate, said finger being fiat and having one free end with an eye therethrough and having the other free end rigidly anchored, coil springs around said finger on opposite sides of said chime plate, one coil spring being locked finger at the one free end and adapted to retain the end of said coil spring and a locking pin pass ing through said eye to lock said washer in position on said finger, and solenoid means on said base for striking said chime plate.

3. An electric chime signal comprising a base plate, at least one solenoid carried on said base plate, a plunger cooperating with said solenoid and adapted to function as a striking means, at least one chime plate cooperating with said plunger to be struck thereby, said chime plate comprising a flat bar having a pair of spaced apertures therethrough, and means for supporting said bar at said apertures, each of said means comprising an arm extending from said base plate, a finger carried by said arm passing through an aperture in said chime plate and having a free end with an eye at said free end, a coil spring anchored between said chime plate and said arm around said finger, a second coil spring around said finger on the other side of said chime plate and extending toward the free end of said finger, a cupped washer having a slot permitting said finger to be threaded through said washer, said Washer being adapted to maintain said other spring in position and pin means passing through said eye and lying along the bottom of the cupped portion of said washer for locking the Washer upon said finger.

4. The structure or" claim 3 wherein a rubber tube is disposed around said finger between said arm and cupped washer with said rubber tube passing through said chime plate and the coil springs around said rubber tube.

JOSEPH S. ZUCKERMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,994,559 Bergeron et al Mar. 19, 1935 2,016,604 Karnell Oct. 8, 1935 2,265,815 Rittenhouse Dec. 9, 1941 

